Gaiazova and her Canadian teammates raced the 1.2-kilometre track on borrowed equipment after their gear did not arrive with them in Germany Thursday night.

"Our goal this weekend is really to get over the jet leg and have some hard efforts before getting back on the World Cup," said team coach Eric de Nys. "It was a brutal day for a ski race with heavy winds, fog and rain. Considering the scramble for the equipment and that we just got in last night, it was a good day."

Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., and Chandra Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., also both qualified for the head-to-head heats, but did not advance past the quarter-final round. Jones placed 14th, while Crawford finished 21st.

The Canadian women will return to action Sunday in a five-kilometre skate-ski race.